Portland Research Institution Summit [Presentation] - Grace Chapin James: Engage Early, Engage Often_July 2018

1. Grace Chapin James
Deputy Director of
Admissions
The University of
Chicago
ENGAGE EARLY, ENGAGE OFTEN:
AN ADMISSIONS PERSPECTIVE

2. They can…
 Assist at college fairs or presentations
 Interview prospective students
 Encourage friends, family, and their own children to consider the school
 Assist with fundraising goals for enrollment initiatives
 Foreshadow and provide post-enrollment employment opportunities to students
 Better outcomes = better enrollment!
ALUMNI CAN HELP ENROLLMENT!

3.  Clear legacy definition and communication of impact
 Parents, step-parents, grandparents, and step-grandparents who attended the College or
graduate programs
 “Legacy status, like any unique factor in a strong application, can sometimes add an extra
boost if a student is highly qualified but “on the fence” for admission”
 Specialized communications to recruit and yield children of alumni
 Letters and FAQ for alumni parents of a legacy applicant
 Special yield letter emphasizing affinity for admitted legacy applicant parents
 Dedicated office legacy liaison
 Previous: Guaranteed interview for legacy applicants (discontinued for 2018 -19)
WORKING WITH ALUMNI FAMILIES

4.  Assisting with:
 College fairs
 Off campus presentations
 Being the “voice” of your institution when you can’t be there
 In graduate programs, pairing with recent admitted students of similar background or interest
ALUMNI AS “ADMISSIONS AMBASSADORS”

5.  A few alumni can go a long way!
 Inviting to events to speak or mingle
 Prospective
 Highlighting future internship sites or employment opportunities
 Show students and families what a UChicago student can be in the future
 Our office and Career Advancement are under the same umbrella
HELPING TO RECRUIT AND YIELD

6.  “Future you”
 Making the “admission to career” pipeline clear
 How have others done what you plan to do?
 How can they help you while you’re enrolled?
 Connecting prospective students to alumni currently in their field of interest
 Case study from Harvard Graduate School of Education
 Not where I work, but I do their work! 
ADMISSION AND CAREER CONNECTIONS

7.  Discontinuing interview process
 Cumbersome for alumni and staff
 Not a great engagement experience with high selectivity
 Inconsistent reporting
 Access and compliance issues
 Planning a future model for engagement
 Online platform for information sharing and informational- not evaluative- interviewing
 Student-focused video interview option
 Alumni focus group before, during, and after rollout
CHANGES AT UCHICAGO ADMISSIONS

8. Even in times of big change!
ENGAGING PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS,
FAMILIES, AND ALUMNI IN ADMISSIONS
BRINGS MANY BENEFITS!

9. gracejames@uchicago.edu
QUESTIONS?